Probably one of the most beautiful places to visit in Saudi Arabia, AlUla is home to some of the most incredible natural wonders you will see in the country. It is a place full of history and beauty, with sites like Elephant Rock and Hegra rivaling those of Petra in Jordan.
Within this travel guide, you'll find all the information needed to plan a memorable trip to AlUla. We will be exploring the famous heritage site, Hegra, strolling around AlUla's Old Town, spending the night under the stars with Our Habitas, and so much more. So without further ado, here are the 10 best things to do in AlUla.
AlUla Things to do Itinerary Map
10 Best Things to Do in AlUla
1. Explore Hegra
Built by the Nabateans, the same people who gave us Petra in Jordan, Hegra is probably the highlight of my trip to Saudi Arabia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 100 tombs carved into sandstone cliffs located in the middle of the AlUla desert.
The entire area is fenced off, and the only way to visit Hegra is to go on an organized tour run by the government. You can book it online here. Make sure to book in advance, as they have limited spots for each time slot.
The best time to visit Hegra is in the evening, so be sure to book a time slot that is as close to sunset as possible. When I booked the tour in early March, the last time slot of the day was at 2:30 PM, which turned out to be perfect. It took us about 30 minutes to get from the meeting point to Hegra, and we spent about 3 hours exploring the heritage site until 5 PM.
- ALULA WINTER (Budget)
- Caravan by Habitas AlUla (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Our Habitas AlUla (High-End)
- Hegra Tour (5 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- AlUla Old Town Tour (3 hours)
- Tama Restaurant Reservation
That's plenty of time for the sun to be low enough to create shadows and depth, which is something I always like to see when taking photos. Another reason to visit Hegra in the evening is the alignment of Qasr al-Farid, the unfinished tomb carved out of a standalone rock, the poster child of AlUla, which faces northwest.
If you are visiting Hegra in the evening, the light should shine perfectly right in front of the entrance of the tomb, as you see in my photos, which is better for photography than if you were to visit in the morning when the entrance of the tomb is under shades.
The tour will pick you up from Winter Park, just north of AlUla. You can organize a taxi from your accommodation or drive there and park for free in its parking lot.
After arriving at Winter Park, you'll board a bus to the Hegra Visitors Center, where you'll receive a warm welcome with dates and juices. From there, you'll transfer to another tour bus to begin your exploration of Hegra.
The tour takes about 3 hours, and you will be visiting 4 sites: Al Diwan, Jabal Al Banat, Qasr al-Farid (A tomb carved from a lone rock), and Face Rock, all in that order. The guide will take you to each spot and explain the history of the place as well as point out the details you might have missed.
You'll have plenty of time to take photos of the tombs. I found that I could often capture photos without anyone else in them by waiting for the tour to move to the next location and lingering behind for a bit longer.
Hegra is absolutely amazing and exactly as I had hoped it would be. While the tour was a bit annoying, I can see why it is necessary. I was able to enjoy the place due to the fact that they have a daily limit capacity, so all in all, it was worth it.
If you want to visit Hegra, be sure to book the tour in advance and set aside at least half a day for it. The tour costs approximately 95 SAR and runs six times a day from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM during the peak season, and two or three times a day during the low season.
Where to Stay in AlUla?
2. Chill Out at Elephant Rock
Elephant Rock is another awesome tourist attraction you should check out in AlUla. It is a beautiful rock formation that is shaped like an elephant, located in the middle of the desert.
Hegra is only a 15-minute drive from AlUla and around the rock, you'll find a handful of street food stalls, cafes, and a restaurant where you can relax. What's great is that entry and parking are free, even if you don't purchase anything from any of the establishments.
You can even sit at their beautiful tables without buying anything, which is pretty rare to find in this day and age. The best time to visit Elephant Rock is in the evening when the light is best, or late at night when it is most lively, and the place is beautifully lit up.
The cafes and restaurants here are technically open from 6 PM to 3 AM, but they can change depending on the season and time. You can still visit Elephant Rock outside of closing time, so whenever you are free, be sure to drop by and check out Elephant Rock.
3. Spend the Night Under the Stars with Our Habitas
Probably one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels I have ever splurged on, Our Habitas is the epitome of great hospitality with its collection of awesome hotels, located inside a vast private area with some of the most dramatic landscapes you will see in AlUla.
I usually do not stay in this kind of place, but when I found out that many of the coolest attractions in AlUla, like Maraya, are locked behind this private land and people without reservations are prohibited from entering, I decided to bite the bullet and book one of Our Habitas hotels.
They have about 3 hotels inside this private land with varying budget levels. I went with the cheapest one of all, Caravan by Habitas, which is still pretty expensive at almost 311 USD per night. It is a luxury campsite tucked away in the rugged canyon of AlUla, and you will be staying in a caravan car.
You have all the facilities inside the caravan, such as running water, a queen-sized bed, an en suite toilet, fridge, stove, and everything you would expect from a hotel room, but on a much smaller scale. It's pretty cool.
You will be spending the night under the stars and relaxing in your little private corner of the desert in solitude. It was a much-needed rest for me, especially after driving for more than 1,200 km to get here from Riyadh.
If you have a bit more budget, you can also opt for more expensive options like Banyan Tree AlUla, or the most luxurious of all, Our Habitas with its Canyon Villa, swimming pool surrounded by canyons, and e-bikes to get around the property. The price is also luxurious, at a dizzying 500 USD per night.
Do you know what the coolest part is about staying at one of these three hotels? You can use the facilities of all of them, no matter where you stay. I stayed at Caravan, and I have access to the swimming pool and the restaurant at Our Habitas, which is pretty awesome.
Don't get me wrong, it is hellishly expensive, but if you stay only one night and spend the entire day exploring all the tourist attractions around the private land, and enjoying all the facilities to their fullest, like watching a movie at an outdoor theatre, attending a yoga class, or just biking around with your e-bike, you will get your money's worth in no time.
I certainly did, as I spent much of my second and third days in AlUla relaxing and enjoying the "Our Habitas" experience to the fullest. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you're looking for the most amazing and luxurious experience you can have in AlUla, Our Habitas and its sister hotels are the way to go.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Hegra Tour (5 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- AlUla Old Town Tour (3 hours)
- Tama Restaurant Reservation
4. Be Amazed by Maraya
Maraya is a massive mirrored structure, the largest of its kind in the world, located inside the private land operated by Our Habitas in the middle of nowhere, and it is one of the most beautiful buildings you will see in AlUla.
Maraya is an architectural wonder with its all-mirrored exterior reflecting the stunning rugged landscapes of AlUla, creating an illusion as if the structure is one and the same. You won't believe your eyes the moment you see the structure from afar.
Unfortunately, as I told you before, since Maraya is located on private land owned by Our Habitas, you are going to have to show a reservation of one of the hotels operated by them or a reservation to the Tama Restaurant, to get access to the property. The place is deep inside the canyons and you will not be allowed in without a reservation no matter what, so be sure to have that handy.
Once you get in, it should take about 5 minutes to drive to Maraya, and you should be able to park your car at the free parking lot nearby.
Since it is an art center, at the moment, you will only have access inside the building if there is an event going on and you have a reservation for that event. Even then, just staring at Maraya from the outside is already worth the trip. There's just nothing quite like it.
If you want to see Maraya while you are in AlUla, be sure you either have a reservation at Tama Restaurant or book one of these Our Habitas' hotels listed below:
- Caravan by Habitas (👍 I stayed here. Highly recommended!)
- Banyan Tree AlUla
- Our Habitas
5. Fine Dining at Tama Restaurant
Again, if you are still looking for ways to get access to Our Habitas' private land but do not want to pay for the hotels, you can also opt for a fine dining experience at Tama Restaurant, a restaurant operated by Our Habitas.
Also, if you are looking for a romantic fine-dining experience in AlUla to celebrate your visit, there is no better place than Tama Restaurant. They have a variety of menu choices to choose from, and the atmosphere here, especially in the evening, is top-notch.
First and foremost, you are going to need to reserve the table online, so that you can show the reservation to the security guard at the gate. Once you have everything sorted, you should have access to all the facilities including the swimming pools at Our Habitas, Maraya, and more.
The reservation cost for a table of 2 is 350 SAR, which is expensive, but cheaper than if you were to book a hotel at Our Habitas. They have a variety of menus with prices that you can check online here prior to your arrival.
Keep in mind that reservations are mandatory for external guests, and you can only reserve from 10 AM to 9 PM. The place can get booked out fast, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance.
6. Enjoy the Sunset at Harrat Viewpoint
Now, if you are looking for the best lookout point in AlUla that doesn't cost a dime, you can't go wrong with Harrat Viewpoint, an incredible vantage point located on top of a gigantic sandstone cliff, overlooking the city of AlUla and its surrounding area.
The vantage point from Harrat is incredible. With its 180° view, there is no place where you can take in the stunning natural beauty and incredible geological features of AlUla like this. Despite the sun setting behind the viewpoint, it is still one of the best places to watch the sunset in AlUla.
To reach Harrat from AlUla, you'll need to drive up the mountain for about 25 minutes. Once you arrive, you can park your car at the nearby free parking lot and be greeted by the sweeping view of the rugged landscape of AlUla.
Seeing AlUla from the ground is one thing, but the moment you see it from the Harrat Viewpoint, you'll realize right away just how beautiful AlUla truly is.
The details of the rugged terrain, as they reveal themselves when the sun casts shadows on them, are simply mind-blowing. I could stare at these mountains for days. Depending on the time you are visiting AlUla, be sure to make the journey about an hour before sunset so you will have enough time to get to the viewpoint for the finale.
There is also a cafe at the top with live music and plenty of seats, where you can relax as you wait for the sunset. If you are looking for a place to watch the sunset, be sure to check out Harrat Viewpoint.
7. Stroll Around Al Jadidah Arts District
Al Jadidah Arts District is a newly-developed district adjacent to AlUla's Old Town, and it is a place where the creativity of the locals here shines the most.
Located right next to the Old Town's North Parking Lot, you will likely have to walk through Al Jadidah Arts District as you make your way to AlUla's Old Town. The place is full of hidden gems like Madrasat Addeera Cultural Center, Design Space, and my favorite of all, AlUla Public Library.
AlUla Public Library is an oasis of solitude with a real homey atmosphere where you can sit, relax, and enjoy a selection of books about AlUla in its beautiful and cozy space, spread out across 2 floors.
Each room has its own quirks, with one of my favorites being the rooftop area where you can sit and enjoy the view of Al Jadidah Arts District from above. The best part is that it's free of charge to enter and explore!
There are also many beautiful murals around the Al Jadidah Arts District waiting for you to explore. The place is extremely active at night, so be sure to spend some time and thoroughly explore the area while you are in AlUla.
8. Explore AlUla's Old Town
AlUla's Old Town is another tourist attraction in AlUla that you shouldn't miss. With several mud houses and shops lining both sides of the street, the old town of AlUla really gives off a vibe of being in a Western cowboy movie.
The moment you walk into the Old Town, you will be greeted by a local who will give you a cup of Saffron coffee and a date as a welcome gift for free, which I think was a nice touch.
Along both sides of the Old Town's main street, you'll find plenty of shops and stores offering all kinds of goods, from souvenirs to perfumes, and more. You'll also find a selection of really lovely restaurants and cafes that blend seamlessly with the desert surroundings.
Hell, even a Dunkin Cafe in AlUla's Old Town looks incredible when it is inside a mud house. The whole area is extremely active at night, so if you want to see the whole place come to life, be sure to be there after sunset.
There are 2 free parking spots around the Old Town, one in the north and one in the south. I found the North Parking Lot to be the most accessible, as you can walk on foot through the Al Jadidah Arts District to get to the Old Town.
The one in the south is quite far from the Old Town, so you will need to utilize the golf cart transfer service to get there. I highly recommend parking your car in the north and making your way down to AlUla's Old Town through Al Jadidah Arts District, killing two birds with one stone.
9. Hike Up AlUla Castle
Right at the center of AlUla's Old Town, you will find the formidable AlUla Castle, a viewpoint built on top of an outcrop rock, right by the Old Town's main street.
When I was there, it was under renovation, but by the time you read this, they should have completed the whole area, and you should be able to explore the winding alleyways of the mud houses in the Old Town and get to the top of AlUla Castle for an incredible view of the surroundings.
You can also go on a guided tour around the Old Town, which will give you access to AlUla Castle as well. The tour should take about 90 minutes, and you can book one online here.
10. Hike Along the Oasis Heritage Trail
If you are looking for a little adventure, you can also go and hike the Oasis Heritage Trail, a 10-km long walking trail that will take you through the oasis of AlUla along lush palm-shaded paths and a picture-perfect setting.
Don't worry, you do not have to walk the entire 10-km length. You can do as I did and walk parts of it that begin from this trail head across the road from AlUla's Old Town to Pink Camel Cafe, and do a few detours and see a date farm and the abandoned mud houses nearby.
As you begin the Oasis Heritage Trail, you'll come across a random date farm to your left where you can stroll around and explore for a bit. After the date farm, continue along the road, and you'll encounter all the abandoned mud houses to your right. Be sure to explore those as well.
After about 20 minutes, you should arrive at Pink Camel Cafe, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal while being surrounded by tall date trees and old mud ruins as a reward for your hike.
If it's blazing hot outside and you just want to get to the café, you can also drive straight there using this road. There should be plenty of parking spots in front of the café. The food is somewhat pricey, as you might expect from AlUla, but it's pretty good and offers a great rest stop on a hot day.
What to Eat and Drink in AlUla
1. Enjoy a Cup of Coffee at Pink Camel Cafe
A lovely little cafe in the middle of the desert surrounded by date trees and mud houses, Pink Camel Cafe is a great place to take a break from the blazing heat of the desert and enjoy a relaxing and quiet afternoon with a cup of coffee.
The place is on the pricey side of things with dishes costing about 30 to 50 SAR, but that is expected for such a beautifully located cafe. You should be able to get a coffee for around 18 SAR.
I love the atmosphere here. The Pink Camel Cafe is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a quiet place to relax during the day in AlUla. The cafe is open from 10 AM to 8 PM every day. You should be able to reach it with a regular non-4WD car, as the unpaved roads are sturdy enough for a 2WD car to drive on. There will be plenty of parking lot in front of the cafe for you to park at.
2. Tama Restaurant
If you are looking for the ultimate fine-dining experience in AlUla, Tama Restaurant is where you want to be. It is located inside a beautiful private area of AlUla, and they serve all kinds of fusion course meals you can enjoy.
Since it is part of Our Habitas property, as an external guest to their hotel, you are going to need a reservation to get past its gates. You can reserve a table online here with the reservation for a table of 2 costing 350 SAR. The average food cost is about 50-80 SAR, which is pricey as hell, but hey, it's fine dining, so the price is somewhat expected.
Keep in mind that reservations are mandatory for external guests and you can only reserve from 10 AM to 9 PM. The place can get booked out fast, so be sure to reserve your spot prior to your arrival.
What to Pack for AlUla?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to AlUla, Saudi Arabia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit AlUla, Saudi Arabia in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Saudi Arabia
Looking for more information for your trip to Saudi Arabia? Here is a collection of articles about Saudi Arabia that you might find useful:
- Planning a trip to Saudi Arabia? Here's a perfect itinerary for you: 2 Weeks Saudi Arabia Itinerary.
- Want to visit Saudi Arabia, but not sure where to go? Check out: 15 Best Places to Visit in Saudi Arabia.
- Visiting Riyadh soon and wondering what there is to do there? Check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Jeddah is the Dubai of Saudi Arabia with the same laid-back vibe, but way cooler history. Here are the9 Best Things to Do in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Want to rent a car and travel around Saudi Arabia? You might want to read this first: 19 Things To Know Before Renting a Car and Drive in Saudi Arabia.
- Looking to explore more? How about dropping by the United Arab Emirates Travel Guide, Qatar, or Bahrain?
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
We are visiting Riyadh and flying to Alula for w nights. Our flight lands at 11.00 a.m
Plan to visit Al Manshiyah Plaza on way to Habitas hotel. Check in at 3.00 p.m
Next day have car and driver and do about 5/6 hour sightseeing tour.
Maraya, walk through Hadidah art district to old town and if time Elephnt rock
Next morning early hot air vslloon over Hegra
Does this sound a good plan? What do you recommend?
Sounds like an awesome plan! You are going to enjoy it!